It started with a cup of coffee, or more precisely, a hot beverage. Seven years later came fries, the now infamous eggplant and friends. Sandwich lovers waited for their time to come, while ...

A new book published by Prestel explores the history of emoji and its rise as a global communication phenomenon. Penned by UK-based writer Gavin Lucas, The Story of Emoji provides an overview of the ...

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then what of emoji, that ever-increasingly important part of our lexicon? Face with Tears of Joy: A natural history of emoji by Keith Houston has some insights, ...

In the arenas of ancient Rome, the thumbs-up was a matter of life and death. So scholars have extrapolated from the elusive history of ancient gestures. The fates of defeated gladiators were ...

This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today. It started with a cup of coffee, or ...